Shoe.



J. CAVANAGH.

SHOE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23. 19-

1,268,432. Patented June 4, 1918.

' 6 VV/T/VESSES.

, surface to UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of mun Patent- Patented J une 4, 1918. Application flied September 23, 1914. Serial No. 888,122.

To all whom it may concern: The counter herein illpstrated as showing Be it known that I, JAMES CAVANAGH, a a preferred embodiment of the present incitizen of the United States, residing at Bosvention comprises .a body portion 2 of ton, in the county of Suffolk and State of leather or similar material molded to e Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Shoes, of which the followmg description, in connection with the accompan ing drawings, is a specification, like re erence characters on the drawin indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to boots and shoes and particularly to counters or stifieners for t e heels of shoes.

Counters or heel stifl'eners heretofore used in the manufacture of boots and shoes have been molded from leather or leather board and although the are satisfactory as a shape producing e ement for the heel end of the shoe and revent the shoe from being misshaped by t e heel of the foot of the wearer they present a hard, non-resilient engage the heel of the foot. This often causes considerable discomfort to the wearer and fro uently, too, allows the heel portion of the slice to sli up and down on the heel, the slipping o the shoe in the heel being particularly objectionable in Oxford or low cut shoes and is due to the fact that the heel end of the shoe does not conform properly to the contour of the heel of the foot of the wearer.

An object of the resent invention is to provide an im roved counter or heel stillener .which wil retain its shape under all conditions of use and wear and at the same time readily conform itself to the conformation of the heel portion of the foot and present a cushion surface to enga the heel.

Other objects and features of fife resent has an inturned flange 3 which overlies the -margin of the heel seat of the innersole and is secured thereto. The inner or foot engaging portion of the counter consists of a cushionin material 6 cemented or otherwise secure to the body ortion 2 of the molded counter. is preferably sponge rubber or other soft rubber and is of suflicient resiliency and thickness to conform readil to the heel of the foot and toallow the ballof the wearers foot to embed'itself therein. The combined thickness of the body portion ,2 and the gponge rubber 6 is ecreases in thickness toward the upper edge of the counter so as to facilitate the entrance of the foot-of the wearer into the shoe. When incor orated in a shoe the counter is inserted etween the upper 8 and lini 9 and the shoe is then preferably last in the usual manner. In lasting the shoe the upper materials are preferably drawn snugly around the heel of the last and the cushion 6 is thereby placed under compression and more or: less condensed so that when the shoe is completed and the last removed from the resumes its normal condition as shown in Fi 3. Thus the foot receiving space norma ly provided in the shoe is reduced, this reduction in the interior dimensions of the shoe increasing gradually from the ankle wion of the shoe to the ball of the shoe. en the foot is inserted in the shoe the cushion counter 6 will be compressed to invention will appear from the 0 owing escription when considered in connection the conformation of the heel of the foot and with the accompanying drawings and will will snugly hug the wearers foot, the ball be pointed out in the claims. of the heel being embedded into the cushig. 2 and the cushion then In the drawmgs; g; as shown Fi relisa rspective view, partlyin in secti li of a counl'zr embodying the features stamfing away from the ,ncck as does a of the resent invention; counter of usual construction. Under this Fi is a sectional view through the hpel arrangement the shoe is prevented from portion of a shoe embod g the present lnslipping; and down on the heel, which is vention and showing tlid relative position artic y obrctlonable in Oxford and ow cut types 0 shoes, and the uncomfortable and resultant wear on the stock is avoi ed. Mo

of the heelof a foot to the counter; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. ch

and hmng d mover, the i' ufiber cushion 6 besides presenting a soft 2 sho the condition of the counter before tlid aot is inserted.

machine the cushion 6 brace the heel of the foot and preferably This one ioning material suchthat the stifi'ener prevent an upright hee shape retainin element in-a shoe and an inwardly bent ange for attachment to the shoe innersole, and

,a cushioning member extending upwardly along the inner face of said element and above the ball of the heel of the wearers foot and horizontally around the ball and of suflicient de th to allow said ball of the heel to embed itself in the cushioning member while said member closely embraces the relatively small neck ortion of the foot '-immediately above the all of the heel.

2. A heel stiifener for boats and shoes consisting of a still body portion molded to the required shape, and a layer of sponge rubber secured to the inner surface of said still body portion, said rubber bein of sufiicient thickness to allow the ball 0 the heel of the wearers foot to embed itself therein.

3. A heel stiffener for boots and shoes consisting of a member of relatively stifl' material molded to the re uired shape, and a heel receiving member 0 a material adapted to be displaced into exact conformation with the contour of the entire heel portion of the wearers foot when engaged thereby.

4. In a shoe, the combination with a heel stifiening member, and a cushioning member related thereto to extend around the heel of the wearer, of an upper and a lining between which the stifl'enmg and cushioning members are located with the latter member and the lining projecting inwardly to reduce the normal foot receiving space, whereby the ball of the heel of the wearer embeds itself .in said cushioning material duririg use of the shoe.

a shoe the'combination with an innersole, an upper, a heel stifl'ener and a lining which extends from the top of the shoe downwardl under the innersole, of a cushion located tween the lining and the stifl'ener at the back of'the heel and extending from nearthe innersole upwardly above the ball of the heel of the wearer, said cushion being adapted normally to reduce the heel receiving space required by the heel and to be displaced into conformation with the heel upon the insertion of the foot in the shoe.

In testimony whereof I have signed-my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES CAVANAGH.

Witnesses:

Hana: Kanmanmn, WILLIAM B. KING.

Correction In Letters Patent No. 1,268,432.

his hereby certifiodxhit in Inttrs Patent No. 1,268,432, nmd June 4; ms, upon the qiplication of J amen Qavuiagh, of lioatn, Ma'ssachuaoits, for an improvemoat Shag, an arm: nppom in the printad specification requiring cornetion as follow: Page 2, line 10, ohim 1, for the word-"prevont road pram;

md um an aid mm mm mind be read with thin con-action thumin am the sums ml conform to the oi tho cmjn the Pstant Oflica.

Signed and code am am dsyofoctobcl', A. 15., 19m

[sun] AM 0mm of Patents. 0. 36-03. 

